The Cambridge Community Board is looking to get a reading on public sentiment as members champion the opportunity for a new library and community hub.
At the board’s June meeting held yesterday, Wednesday, after The News went to print, it was confirmed the board is due to run an online survey next month and in August as members seek views on “requirements and wishes” for a potential new space.
The board has identified advocating for a library and community hub, which would replace the current Cambridge library, as one of its three key strategic priorities in the three years to 2025.
The others are advocating for active mobility safety measures across and through Shakespeare St and advocating for Cambridge’s CBD to be a vibrant, connected and inspired public space.
The board’s survey comes as Waipā District Council has confirmed a $250,000 feasibility study, expected to be finished by the end of the year, is due to get underway this month.
A written council report said the feasibility study would be funded by the central government’s Better Off Fund – the purpose being to assess different options available for any new library and community hub in Cambridge.
Community need, cost and practicality have been labelled key considerations.
While the aim of the fund is to invest in the future of Local Government and community wellbeing, there are suggestions the current Cambridge library has outgrown its Wilson St premises, and therefore isn’t meeting customer and staff expectations.
The council document said reports of there being not enough room for books and other items and limited spaces in which to hold events and education programmes have been received. Staff are said to be struggling to work in congested back office spaces.
“With a growing population, its important facilities that are provided meet the needs of both the current, and future, community,” it read.
Council staff have said examples of new library spaces in New Zealand – coupled with international research – show modern libraries are more than “…just a quiet place to research and borrow books…”
“They need to have a focus on lifelong learning and… cater for the wider social needs of our communities. Libraries are now, often, vibrant hubs that play critical roles in the community.”
Following the feasibility study findings, which will include the community board’s survey results, the scope of any possible library and community hub project will be refined – including assessing the possibility more than one option will need to be looked at, and the fact more community consultation will be sought.
Project specifics such as costs and completion dates will need to be included in council’s 2024-34 Long Term Plan, open for community consultation in early 2024, before being confirmed by July next year.
Community board members have said the board will have a Long Term Plan submission regarding a possible new library ready, made up of information gathered through its community engagement processes.
Results gathered from the survey underway next month will form part of that submission.
